Chocolate Milk + Exercise = A Winning Team

13/03/08 Chocolate milk has scored a valuable spot on and off the court. Studies suggest the unique mix of key nutrients in chocolate milk can help refuel and rehydrate your body after exercise, making it an ideal post-exercise choice. Now high school teams who refuel with chocolate milk can become a Body by Milk MVP (Milk's Valued Players).

The National Milk Mustache "got milk?" Campaign kicked off the first-ever Refuel Your School contest to reward 25 high school athletic teams that choose chocolate milk to refuel and rehydrate after that big game, practice or workout. Winning teams across America will score a Refuel Rally at their schools, a $1,000 new equipment grant, adidas gear and more.

"Athletes who choose chocolate milk can help benefit their body and their training," said Cal Dietz, Head Olympic Strength Coach at the University of Minnesota. "That's why coaches are increasingly encouraging teen-athletes to drink lowfat chocolate milk to help replenish muscles after practice. Researchers theorize the ratio of carbohydrates and protein in chocolate milk helps muscles recover. Plus, it tastes good and provides nine essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and potassium -- nutrients especially important for teen diets."

Chocolate Milk Has Stepped Up To the Plate

Scientists have evaluated chocolate milk as a post-exercise drink and have identified several reasons why it may be an effective recovery aid: chocolate milk contains a combination of carbohydrates and protein to help replenish exhausted muscles after exercise, and it provides fluids and "electrolytes" such as potassium to assist with rehydration. Additionally, chocolate milk has high-quality protein that helps build lean muscle when combined with exercise.

Researchers at Indiana University found that endurance cyclists who drank chocolate milk after an intense period of cycling were able to work out longer and with more power during a second workout compared to when the same athletes drank a carbohydrate replacement beverage, and just as long as when they consumed a traditional fluid replacement beverage. The researchers concluded that chocolate milk, with its high protein and carbohydrate content, may be an effective and cost-efficient alternative to commercial sports drinks for recovery from intense workouts. Plus, they said "chocolate milk is a drink that is easily available and commonly found in many household refrigerators."

Milk may also help athletes stay hydrated. In one study comparing the effectiveness of lowfat white milk (with or without added sodium), a commercial sports drink and water for rehydrating after intense exercise, all beverages promoted rehydration initially, but milk was the only beverage that promoted and sustained adequate hydration throughout the 4-hour recovery period.

Other studies have found that fat-free milk as a regular part of a post-exercise routine resulted in greater muscle mass buildup compared to certain soy-protein beverages. Researchers concluded that the proteins in milk were more effective in promoting muscle growth when consumed after rigorous resistance exercise compared to equivalent amounts of soy protein.

Chocolate milk has the added bonus of providing additional nutrients not found in most traditional sports drinks. Milk contains nine essential nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D to maintain bone strength, and high-quality protein that along with exercise helps build muscle. Just three 8-ounce glasses of lowfat or fat-free milk provides about half of the protein teenagers of all fitness levels need each day.